Certification in Mexican Gastronomy

Mexican food Intro

First day and night we will have an amazing culinary journey through different eateries, street food and restaurants and markets to start awakening our senses and identifying all the flavors and ingredients we will be preparing in the kitchen.

Once we create an experience and develop a taste memory, we are ready to get into the kitchen and immerse into a culture full of amazing flavors and ancient techniques that will blow our senses and will awake a whole new world.

Mexican food Intro

We will start a Culinary training based on techniques and the foundation of traditional Mexican food. We will prepare chocolate and café de la olla, we will taste different breads and pastries for breakfast then get into the kitchen and start recognizing:
Maíz: History of corn in mesoamerica and the
impact in pre-hispanic civilization, culture and production.
“Nixtamalización” process and corn masa:
We will learn handmade Tortillas in the traditional way and with the press.
We will learn the fundamental use of the main ingredients in Mexican food: tomato, chile, cilantro, epazote, vanilla, chocolate, oregano, garlic, onion, beans, blue corn, white corn, yellow corn, different chiles (peppers), etc.

Then the different preparations of salsas (which are basic to our gastronomy), marinades and recaudos (moles and pastes) for the most important meat and chicken preparations. We will prepare, salsa verde cruda, salsa verde de molcajete for tacos and quesadillas, salsa verde for Chilaquiles and Tamales. Salsa verde for pork and chicken, Roja,
cruda, for tacos, cooked for chilaquiles and molcajeteada. Basic red and green salsas for soups and stews.

This day is very important because we are learning the two most important bases for a great taco: tortilla (Nixtamal) and salsas. Chicharrón en salsa verde Cerdo con verdolagas

9.00am-Breakfast at La Cabaña, delicious Mexican breakfast. (learn a traditional breakfast every day-demo).
10.00am-Cooking Class “Introduction to Mexican food” we will prepare: Nixtamal, corn and wheat masas, tortillas and learn about the bases of salsa preparations and uses.
5.30pm-Amazing food tour in Puerto Morelos with Chef Cristobal where you will try different antojitos, a day full of flavor!

Guisados for Quesadillas and Tacos
Today’s class menu is about…..Tacos and quesadillas, we already prepared two very important elements for a premium Taco, Tortillas and tasty salsas, now it’s time for several very popular fillings for tacos and quesadillas.

9.00am-Breakfast at La Cabaña, delicious Mexican
breakfast. (learn a traditional breakfast every day-demo)
10.00am-2.00 pm-Cooking Class “Tacos”:

Tacos:
– Pastor
– Carnitas
– Barbacoa
– Birria
– Chorizo (Mexican sausage)2.00-4.00pm- Taco lunch break
4.00-7.00pm-Cooking Class “Quesadillas”

Quesadillas:
– Chicken Tinga
– Chorizo with potatoes
– Mushroom
– Rajas with cream (Poblano strips)
– Cheese with epazote
– Huitlacoche (Corn fungus)

Valladolid

Pick up at 1pm in Puerto Morelos to go to Valladolid.

3.30 pm—Destilería and cenote: On our way to Valladolid, we will make a stop at La Destileria (tequila distillery), to learn more about tequila making, taste some of the tequilas this place has to offer and swim at a cenote.
5.00pm-Return to the Casita, have a shower and get ready to have snacks and drinks at “La Mezcalería” Sleep at Chef Alejandra’s Boutique School Valladolid.

YAXUNAH, YUCATAN

We will travel to Yaxunah to learn from world famous, Netflix Chef’s Table BBQ, Rosalía Chay, who will take us into ancient Mayan techniques preparing a feast in the pib (buried oven) where we will enjoy relleno negro, cochinita pibil and mayan appetizers, a wonderful feast with the chef.

4.00am-Pick up to go to Rosalia’s house and see all the preparation of the food
9.00am-Breakfast at Chef Rosalia’s house
10.30am-Visit Yaxunah ruins and cenote
3.00pm-Go back to Chef Rosalia’s house to enjoy her experience
5.30pm-Back to Valladolid and time off

YUCATAN DELIGHTS

We will go to Valladolid’s market to get ingredients for our class with Chef Claudia and have some appetizers for breakfast.
8.00am-Pick up to go to the market
10.30 am-Traditional Yucatan food cooking class

• Recado blanco y rojo
• Pipian (beef yucatan pipian)
• Arroz con chaya (yucatecan rice)
• Frijoles colados (beans)
• Sopa de lima (Lemon soup)
• Salsa (pickled red onion)
• Tortillas
• Corn bread (dessert)

4.30pm-Pick up to go back to Puerto Morelos

Pozole Class
Iconic Mexican dishes prepared with broths and recaudos.
9.00am-Breakfast at La Cabaña, delicious Mexican breakfast. (learn a traditional breakfast every day -demo)
10.00am-3.00pm-Cooking Class

• Mole de olla (Mexican soup)
• Albondigas al chipotle (Chipotle meatballs)
• Arroz rojo (Red rice)
• Chile relleno (Stuffed pepper)
• Caldo de hongos (Mushroom soup)

3.30-6.00pm- Tequila and mezcal tasting

7.00pm-Dinner at “Muelle Once” in Puerto Morelos let’s dine on the ocean in this restaurant with a menu designed by star chef Daniel Ovadía

MEXICAN “ANTOJITOS” and Boat day
We will be introduced to a world corn appetizers part of our Mexican traditional street food.
9.00am-Breakfast at La Cabaña, delicious Mexican breakfast. (learn a traditional breakfast every day-demo)
10.00am-2.00pm-Mexican Antojitos Cooking Class

• Tlacoyos
• Huaraches
• Tamales (verdes y rajas, oaxaqueños)
• Sopes
• Flautas
• Gorditas
• Frijol refrito
• Sweet rice with milk

2.30pm-Pick up at Puerto Morelos to go to Cancun Yacht Club.
3.30pm-8.00pm-Boat Day at Cancun, enjoy the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. After the boat, you will have a stop to eat some tacos.

MOLES AND ADOBOS

Moles and Adobos are a huge part of the salsa world, and let us taste the evolution from a simple salsa to the complexity of a rich Mole.
10.00am-Breakfast at La Cabaña, delicious Chilaquiles buffet. Relax morning
12.00pm-5.00pm-Cooking Class Moles and Adobos

We will prepare:
• Mole Verde
• Mole Poblano
• Pierna adobada (Marinated meat)
• Cerdo en pipian
• Arroz poblano
• Traditional Flan

FISH AND SEAFOOD
9.00am-Breakfast at La Cabaña, delicious Mexican breakfast. (learn a traditional breakfast every day-demo)
10.30am-2.30 -Fish and Seafood Cooking Class

• Ceviche
• Agua chile
• Shrimp al mojo de ajo
• Fish tacos
• Pescadillas
• Pescado a la veracruzana

3.00pm-5.00pm-Visit Cenote Sol y Luna
7.00pm-Dinner at molecular cuisine fine dinning restaurant “Le Chique” rated among the 50 best restaurants in Latin America.

Your certification in Mexican Cuisine includes 45 ACF hours, all classes, tours and culinary activities, Lodging in Riviera Maya and Valladolid, all transportations in Private a/c Van, Culinary guide in english. Certificate, diploma, Mexican food manual with all recipes, personalized apron and a Mexican souvenir basquet.

American Culinary Federation